Nairobi, Kenya- A morning commute turned into chaos on Tuesday after a bus carrying more than 40 passengers overturned on the Thika Superhighway, causing injuries and bringing one of Nairobi’s busiest roads to a standstill.
The accident happened just past Safari Park Hotel, as the bus was heading towards the Central Business District. The vehicle toppled onto its side and came to rest against the highway’s barricades.
Passengers in Shock, But No Fatalities Reported
Witnesses described a scene of confusion as shocked passengers scrambled to safety with the help of bystanders and traffic police. Authorities confirmed that most of those on board sustained light injuries, with emergency teams providing treatment at the scene.
Images seen by Y News showed the bus lying across the road, while footage captured traffic police and officials from the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) cordoning off the area. Ambulances rushed in shortly after, ferrying the more seriously hurt to nearby hospitals.
The accident triggered a massive traffic jam, leaving hundreds of motorists stranded during the early morning rush. Officers diverted vehicles to the service lane and later brought in a recovery lorry to tow the overturned bus.
Despite the interventions, long tailbacks stretched for kilometres, with motorists voicing their frustrations on social media. The gridlock was particularly disruptive given that schools reopened this week for the third term, increasing the number of vehicles on Nairobi’s roads.
A Grim Reminder of Road Safety Concerns
The Thika Superhighway crash follows a series of serious road accident just weeks earlier. A school bus crash in Kisumu left more than 20 passangers dead, an incident that has sparked major uproar from Kenyans and amplified calls on government to enforce and tighten road safety measures.
Authorities have pledged action to deal with the road accident menace so as to reduce the number of avoidable accidents on Kenyan roads.
